Garmin International and Johnson Outdoors said today that the companies reached an agreement on a settlement that resolves a lawsuit involving Johnson Outdoors’ patented side scan sonar technology.
Today’s announcement follows International Trade Commission rulings affirming infringement by Garmin of one Johnson Outdoors patent and non-infringement of two Johnson Outdoors patents.
The agreement, which includes the licensing of these patents to Garmin, will bring closure to related legal matters pending before the ITC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
Terms of the agreement are confidential.
“Innovation is our lifeblood and what Johnson Outdoors has delivered consistently for nearly 50 years,” Johnson Outdoors chairman and CEO Helen Johnson-Leipold said in a statement. “It is the driving force behind our legacy of continuous growth and success. This is why we invest heavily in development and protection of our proprietary innovation and vigorously defend it against unauthorized use. Today’s announced settlement and licensing agreement are the latest acknowledgements of the validity of our side scan sonar patents by our competitors, as affirmed consistently by the courts.”
“Garmin recognizes Johnson Outdoors and Humminbird’s innovation in side scan fishfinder technology,” Garmin International president and CEO Cliff Pemble said. “We understand that patents are a great accomplishment, a prized achievement by innovation leaders, including Johnson Outdoors and Humminbird. We are pleased with the amicable resolution of this matter and respect Johnson Outdoors for working with Garmin to license this technology.”
